Collation of results suspended in Imo

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Deserted collation centre in Imo

Torn result sheets

The collation of the results of the Imo State governorship election was suspended Monday morning when agents of a political party disposed officials of the result sheets and tore them.

The early morning incident forced electoral officials to flee their duties.

The agents were, however, arrested by security officials at the collation centre on Port Harcourt, Owerri while electoral officers ran for their safety.

Trouble started when the agents of the Action Alliance (AA) protested the alleged hitherto irreconcilable result of Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area (LGA), where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scored over 64,000. But the State Returning Officer (RO), Prof. Francis Otunta, accepted the result after computations were done.

When the officials, agents and journalists returned from break, after collating and announcing the results of 11 LGAs, it was the turn to announce that of Ideato South LGA, when Uche Onyeaguocha, a Lawyer, speaking for the PDP candidate, registered resentment, insisting that the result should not be read, alleging that the result sheets were allegedly dispossessed from the electoral officials at the council only to later smuggle in by the AA loyalists and submitted.

As the argument and fisticuffs were going on, between Onyeaguocha and an aide to Givernor Rochas Okorocha, Steve Asimobi, also a Lawyer, and others, they tore the result sheets, scattering materials, chairs and equipment.

The RO, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Francis Ezeonu, other electoral officials, journalists ran away for safety. Security personnel had a tough time controlling the situation. They were later arrested and whisked away.

The results of 11 LGAs already collated and announced before the fracas, included Orlu, Nwangele, Oguta, Orsu, Mbaitoli, Owerri Municipal, Onuimo, Ikeduru, Aboh mbaise,Nkwere and Okigwe.

PDP scoring highest, a total of 128,732, followed by the AA with total of 66,752, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),
Polled a total of 37,107 votes.
APC garnered a total of 27,351 and
Accord Party, scoring 2,047 votes.